OCHA hiring a Public Information Officer.
This position is located in the Operations and Advocacy Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. OCHA’s mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions.
This temporary job opening is being published for the position of Public Information Officer/Reporting Officer with the Regional Office for West and Central Africa (ROWCA) located in Dakar, Senegal, with significant travel throughout the region, including at short notice to provide emergency surge capacity to the region and beyond, as required. The Public Information Officer/Reporting Officer reports to the ROWCA Head of the Public Information Unit.
Job description
Within delegated authority and depending on location, the Public Information Officer/Reporting Officer may be responsible for the following duties:
- Provides support to humanitarian operations in countries under the remit of the Regional Office for West and Central Africa, including through the undertaking of extended field missions. Deploy rapidly and on short notice, as required, to provide emergency support and technical expertise to countries with OCHA offices, as well as to other countries in support of Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams.
- Conducts reporting and analysis, by establishing and maintaining reporting system within the region; drafting and distribution of regular products on the humanitarian situation in the region; ensuring flow of information and analysis of developments in the region, including tracking trends and sharing reports with HQ, country offices and regional partners.
- Leads the process of or substantially contributes to the preparation of various written reports, e.g. draft sections of internal and external information products, studies, background papers, policy guidelines or related documents.
- Prepares, on the basis of official UN documentation and other sources, initial drafts of content for inclusion in OCHA products (e.g. Humanitarian Overviews, Annual Reports etc), periodicals, reports and books and ensures coherence between regional-level initiatives and HQ and Country Offices messaging and strategy.
- Monitors and analyzes current events, public opinion and press, identifies issues and trends, and advises management on appropriate action/responses and approaches for media relations; coordinates with key regional stakeholders on advocacy initiatives to ensure coherent media strategy and common messaging.
- Produces or oversees production of a specific type or types (e.g. print, broadcast, social media etc.) of information communications products (e.g. press kits, press releases, feature articles, key messages, brochures, backgrounders, audio-visual materials, social media content, etc.), to include proposing topics, undertaking research, determining appropriate medium and target audience, preparing production plans, writing drafts, obtaining clearances and finalizing texts, editing copy, and coordinating design approval, printing procedures and distribution.
- Provides guidance to, and may supervise, more junior staff.
Job requirements
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the full range of communications approaches, tools, and methodologies essential to planning and executing effective campaign strategies and programmes, e.g. campaign management, media operations, marketing and promotion, audience outreach, message targeting. Ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources. Ability to identify public affairs issues, opportunities and risks in an international environment. Ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations with target audiences and cultivate productive relationships. Knowledge of relevant internal policies and business activities/issues. Ability to produce a variety of written communications products in a clear, concise style. Ability to deliver oral presentations to various audiences. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
CREATIVITY: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks « outside the box »; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
- A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in public information, journalism, international relations, public administration or related area is required.
- Experience in humanitarian affairs or related area at the international level is desirable.
- Reporting experience is desirable.
- Experience with crisis communications is desirable.
- Experience with the UN common system is desirable.
- Field experience in the Region (West and/or Central Africa) is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English and French required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This position is funded for a finite period of 364 days with possibility of extension. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or availability of the funds.
Please note that the appointment/assignment of the successful candidate will be subject to visa issuance.
If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.
While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.
Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.
Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.
Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as « retirement. » Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.
IMPORTANT: Candidates found suitable and not selected for the announced duty station, may be selected for deployment to other duty stations. The selection will be for similar functions with similar requirements at the same level.
Please note that due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19 and the travel restrictions imposed by national authorities, selected candidates may be required to start the assignment/appointment remotely, in agreement with the hiring manager, and until further notice.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
Application deadline: 05 May 2020
Pour postuler à ce poste veuillez visiter ce lien: https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=134878
